Posts Tagged ‘Flavio Briatore

A day after Renault’s Briatore and Symonds resigned from the team, the world of sports is abuzz with what is probably the worst scandal in F1 racing.

Formula 1 as a sport has its history of foul play over the years. With racers intentionally crashing to dampen another’s race, there is nothing very different about the latest Renault scandal. But what is reported as a first, is the fact that a racer was asked to crash for the benefit of a fellow team racer.

Among the accusations against team Renault, the strongest is that of the team risking not only Piquet’s life, but also endangering the spectators, marshals and other racers.

Nelson Piquet Jr. with Flavio Briatore

The case does have a couple of different takes and these are some of them:

– Piquet Jr. should bear the consequences because he chose to go ahead with the dirty plan.

– Alonso should renounce his title from last year even if he had no idea about the plan.

– The team should be banned from F1 racing.

The Singapore Grand Prix seems to be getting all the publicity it needs before the race in September. Whatever said, Singapore is the most talked of race this season!

Here we were waiting for Renault’s hearing on Monday. Little did we think there would be so much drama way before the hearing even! The team is not going to be disputing the allegations made by Piquet Jr. But the juiciest bit of it all is the bit on the resignations.

Renault’s managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds have reportedly left the team.

Renault's masterminds - Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore

After a prolonged denial of the accusations made against the team, by Piquet Jr. and his father, the team released the following press release,

“The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team. Before attending the hearing before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment.”

So was Alonso’s win at Singapore last year really a fluke?

WOW! It is almost time for round 2 of the Singapore Grand Prix and last year’s race is back in the spotlight! I guess it is definitely safe to say that this is another first at the Singapore Grand Prix!